Clutch-controlled elevator.



No. 844,661. PATLNTED PEB. 19, 1907. 11. 11. 9111111911.

CLUTCH CONTROLLED BLEVAIR.

APPLICATION FILED DB9.31,1903.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 844,661. PATENTED FEB. 19, 1907. H. H. CUTLER.

CLUTCH GUNTRGLLED ELEVATOR.

APPLICATION PILBD DBG.31.1903.

5 SHEETS--SHBET 2.

No. 844,661-I PATENTED FEB. 19. 1907. H. H. GUTLER. `CLUTCH CUNIOLLED ELEVATOP..

.APAYLIOATION` FILED DEO.81,1903.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

@jadw Mm A Z f/ 6% y# 7mm/"2 K 5 SHEETS-SHEET ,4.

PTENTEI) FEB. 19, 1907.

H. H. GUTLER. 1 GONTROLLBD ELBVATQR.

APPLICATION FILED DEG.31,1903.

GLUTG PATENTED FEB. 19, 1907.

H, H. GUTLER.

CLUTCH GQNTROLLED ELEVATOR.

APPLIUATION FILED DEG.S1,1903

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY H. CUTLER, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCCN SIN ASSIGNOR T THE CUT.- LER-HAMMER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, CI* MILWAUKEE, WISCON- SIN, ACORPORATION GF WISCONSIN.

loLuTcH-ooNTlaoLLED ELENA-ron.

Speoication of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 1.9, 1907.

Application filed December 3l, 1903. Serial No. 181,366.

To 'rt/- w/m/)t it may concer/t:

State of llisconsin, have invented a certain l new and useful lmprovenunt in Clutch-(lontrolled Elevators, ol' which the following is a full, clear7 concise, and exact description7 rel'- 'erence being had to the accompanying draw- Io ings, forming a part of this spcciiication. My invention relates to improvements in electric elevators. Where it is necessary in an apparatus of this character to 'start and stop the motor frequently in controlling the operation of the elevator mechanism, a much larger amount of current is required to run the motorthan' would be necessary if the motor operated continuously. This comes about by the fact that a motor in starting 2o consumes a great deal more current than 'when it is in normal operation.

. The present invention has for one orc its objects to provide an electric elevator which may be perfectly controlled while the motor runs continuously.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus by which a number of elevators may be operated from the same motor and independently controlled.

Besides the aforesaid object of my invention there are various other objects, which will be apparent from .the disclosure of my invention which I have made in this specilication.

ln thc accompanying drawings I have illustrated one form of electric elevator which I have worked out for the purpose of revealing my invention. The several views in said drawings are as follows:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a part ol an elcvator mechanism with its motor. Fig. 2 is a plan View thereof. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken through one of thcy clutches on the lineI 3 3 of Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a face view ol the magnet member oit one of said clutches. Fig. 5 is a diagram of a circuit arrangement for (.:ontrolling the operation of the elevator mechanism. Fig. (i is an elevation of a bank or pluralit)Y of elevators, and Fig. 7 is a side 6 view of said bank of elevators. Y

As my invention is exemplified in the apparatus shown in the drawings a suitable motor 1, which maybe of any type and designed for either a direct or alternating current, is associated u ith an elevator mechanism. This elevator mechanism may be of any construction. 'lhe one which l have herein shown has a winding-drum 2 for the hoisting rope or ca blc, vsaid drum being journaled in suitable bearings and driven from a driving-shaft 3 by a worm. and gear in the usual way. Upon the driving-slant is mounted a brake-wheel el, which a'bralte shoe or band 5 is arranged to engage. This lshoe is normally pressed into engagement with the brake-wheel by a spring (i and has connected therewith a lever 7, which is also connected to the core of a solenoid S. ll'hen the solenoid is energized, its core is attracted and theI lever operated to remove the brake-shoe lrom the brake-Wheel, and thereby release the elevator mechanism so that it may operate.

Connected in a suitable manner with the motor-shalt is a clutcheshaft 9, which carries the members of clutches o'r accelerators 10 `and l1. As shown in the drawings7 the magnet or primary member of each clutch is I'ixed upon the shaft 9, while the armature or secondary member may freely rotate. Arranged to rotate with the armature or secondary members of the clutches are miter or bevel gears 12 and 13, the gear 12 being attached to the armature or secondary member of the clutch 10 and the gear 13 being fastened to the armature memberI of the clutch 1 1. These gears both mesh with ak bevel or ruiter gear le, secured upon the driving or worm shalt 3.

'lhe elevator mechanism may be driven from the motor through either' of said clutches, and the direction in which said mechanism will be operated when it is driven through one of said clutches will be the oppo site. from what it would he if the mechanism were driven through the other clutch. This permits the elevator mechanism to be operated in either direction, so as to wind the hoisting rope or cable upon the windingdrum or unwind it therefrom, as desire without stopping' or changing the direction of o )eration of the motor.

'llie clutches which I employ are by preference constructed as illustrated in detail in Figs. 3 and 4 and fully set forth in an ap lication tiled bv me August 5, 1903, Seria N o. 168,388. The magnetcr primary member IOO backing-'plate and the pole-piems.

ol" each clutch has a lmcking-plate l5, upon which is mounted an outer ring having; inwardly-projecting pole-pieces l() and :in inner ring having` outwardlv-projecling pole pieces 1S, these pole-pieces being arranged in overlapping positions and having the spaces between the smic 'lilled with non-magnetic material. The cnergizing-windinc lt) lor the magnet or primarir member pliiccd within an annular channel lormed between the he are nurture or serfind'n jv member has a hub '20, upon which is mounted n, spring-metal disk 2i, which lnear its center secured to seid hub and at its outer edges supports an ernia ture-plate 22, normnll)Y seperated from the pole-pieces ot the magnet. This spring-disk serves to Withdraw the armature-plate i'rom the magnet or primary member when tbe en.- ergiZing-coil is decnergized.

)ue to the particular construction of the primary member of mv clutch, i :tm enabled to provide a clutch in which the driven member is accelerated through the combined influence. ot induction and friction, the induction being:r adapted to create in the secomlarv member torque-producing currents. Due to the fact that the frictional eil'ect is a constant force during the period ot' acceleration and the inductive efl'ect is a gradually-decreasing force as the driven member accelerates, it Will be seen that i am enabled to provide a clutch in which the driven member will be automaticallyv gradually accelerated and will operate without the jar or sudden starting' which has been found so objectionable to magnetic clutches ol the prior art. lt is apparent that il' just sullieient current be admitted to start the driven member the same will not attain full speed and can be driven at any desired speed less than the speed ol' the driven member until the current is increased sul'liciently to bring the driven mein- .ber to full speed. 'Vherel'ore by controllingl the amount ol current wl 'ch is a-dn'iitted to tll-' energizing-windingr ol the clutch I am enabled to provide u clutch which is gradually acceflemtinpr and ian-:ler the l'ull control of the op ,rrttor vWhile l have shown one form oll my clutch in the present invention, il will be under` stood that various minli'licatioi'is thereof mayY be made. Also the clutches may be arranged in connection with the motor and elevator mechanism in n dill'erent mannertrom that shown and still perform the desired function.

The terminals of the windings ol" the clutches are connected with suitable collecting-rings 23, against which bear brushes 24, which serve to convey current to the windings. The clutches and the lears assembled therewith are all preferably surrounded b v a casing 25, containing' a bath of oil.

'l character.

l ployed to operate an elevator-car, .it is desirable to have it device to determine the revolutions the windingdrum may make in either direction, so :is to insure the stoppage of the car or other device at the limits ol its travel. F or this purpose l preferablyy employ n liniit-switcl'i 2G, which has at contactarm 27, haxincr brushes bridging' suitable contacts. The switch mayA be operated to breuk or otherwise va'll'ect the circuit controlled thereby' in a sui table way. The mechanism which l have shown herein to operate the switch has a shaft 2S, journaled in suitable bearings and driven from the mirabile-drum by gears 29.- At a suitable dislimcc apart upon said shaft are catches 30, which turn therewith, and between said catches a collar Y31 is threaded upon said shalt. Thfs collar engages a pivoted frame 3;), which has an arm connected by a rod 33 with the arm of the limit-switch. As the shaft 28 turns the collar is caused to travel along the same. Vfhen said collarv comes mto eiigzigcment with either of said catches, the trame'is moved thereby :md operates the limit-switch to break the circuit, so as to stop the elevator mechanism. The opera tion ot' the llmt-switch in connection with the cireuts will be hereinafter described.

T he circuit arrangements for controlling the oi'ieration ot the elevator mechanfsm is shown particularly in Fig. 5, to which .l will now relier. liet it be assumed that the inotoi employed is des'gned lor a single-phase alternating current, although, as before stated, unA hind of a motor may be used. This motor has the field-coils 34, 35, 36, and 37. The secondary member or rotor oli the motor ,l have not illustrated; but it will be contemplated. r'lo start the motor, a phase.- splitter 3S is emploi ed, which has a resistance 3) and asecond resfstance 4t), which are connected wth the sup'l'ilysmain 41 through the resstance 4:5. One of the first-mentfoned res stanceswsay,tor example, the resistance Ptes non-imluetive in character, whvlc the other res stance 'l() is inductive in 'lhe resstances 39 and 4() are both subdivided into sections, the sections oli the lormcr be ng connected with the terminnl or contact points t3 and the latterwith the term nal or contact pofnts 44. rl`he con- 46, arranged to sweep over the contactpoints 43, and a. second brush 47,'arranged to sweep over the contact-points 44. l/Vith the brush 47 is connected a brush 4S, which engages a contact:segment 4*.) throughout the movement of the contm=tarm- When the. contact-arm 45 is moved so that thc brushes 4G and fl7 engage the terminal po'nls,crc1,1 tis closed from the suppl);- l ma'n -fll throughres'stances -12 :ind 3), brush YWhere the elevator mechanism is eml flo, conductors 5() and 5l, field-coils 34 und ui'iderst-Liod that the usual form thereof tact-crm 45 ol` the phase-spttter has a brush IOO 35, conductor 52, terminal oo, bridge 54, terminals 55 and 56 to the` opposfte suppl, main 57. Circuft is :tlso closed from the resfstence 42 through the resstence 40, brushes 47 and 48, contact-segment 49, conductor '58, field coils or Windngs 36 and 37, sind conductor 59 to termlnel 56. Bj; reason of the resistance 39 and 40 befng diierent in cl sracter the current passing through the noninductive ressttince 40 will be retarded in phase, and therefore e roteting iield whch will start the motor will be produced in the motor by the field windings or cells. After the motor has started, the further move- 'ment of the contact-crm wdl remove the reslstences 39 and 40 from circuit section by purpose is ofthe aluminiuzneiron type but of trelyremoved from the circut.

, hub.

' stances,

section-until sind res.v stances have been en- Durng the movement of the erin over the terminals of the resstences 39 and 4() the held-windings of the motor are connected 'in two pznellel mths and are subjected to prectcull-, onelmlf of the normal voltage' ot the supply-circuit dueto the interpostion of the res stance 43. When the ernr has reached its osltion, the brush 46 engages the terminalp() and the brush 47 engages the terminel 61 and a retaining-magnet 62 holds the arm during the normal operutlouof the motor against being returned to its initial posltion through the agency of e sprng et its In the movement oll the contact-crm from the lest ternrnels of the resstances 39 and 40 to the 1'eta;nng-megnet the resstence 42 is removed from the clrcuit and the bridge 54 is operated by engagement with the arm to breek the connecten between the terminals 53 and 55. W 1th the new clrcuts which are established the field-windings ere connected in series, the current ilow.` ng from the supply-11min 41 through terntnttl `60, brush 46, conductors 5() and 51, held-wind ings 34 and 35, conductor 52, terminal 61, brushes 47 and 4S, contact-segment 49, cenductor 58, field-coils 36 and 37, conductor 59, terminal 56 to the opposite suppl)fmatin 57. A

The direct current for operzitin(r the clutches, the n brake, und the retaining-ningnet 62 is obtained by rectifying the alternuti ing current from the supply-meins. The` rectifier 63 shown in the drawings for this course any other form of rectit ier muy be employed or an exciter or any other means used to generate a direct current, all of these things being arranged according to the circum- From the Aterminals of the rectilier extend the directecurrent-supply Wires 64- and 65.

For controlling .the clutches 10 and 11 und the brake I provide e controller" 66, which muy be arranged in the elevator-car or in any other convenient place. This controller has a set of contacts 67, between which are connected the sections of fr resistance 68 and st second set of contacts 69, between which are connected the sections of u. resistance 70. The controller-erin 71 initially stands between these sets oi contacts, so that when it is moved in one direetio1i-suy to the left-e brush 72, carried thereby, .will engage the -resistence-contaets 67, end when said arm is right, said brush will engage the resistanceeontects 69. A second brush 73, carried by the controller-arm, engages e contact-segment 74 when the controller-arm is moved to the left and e contact-segment 7.5 when the controller-arm is' moved to the right. A third brush 76, also carried by the controllerzum, engages electricelly-connected. contact` segments 77 when them-1n is moved in either direction, seid brush being out of engagenent with said segnents 77 when said arm is in its initial position. All of these brushes are electrically connected with one another in ftsuiteble wanner.

One terminal of each of the windings 19 of the clutches 10 end 11 is connected with the direct-current-stu)ply wire 64, as is also one terminal ol" the solenoid 8 ot' the brake. The opposite terminal of the winding of the clutch 10 is connected with the resistance 68, sind the opposite terminal of the winding ol' the clutch 1 1 is connected with the resistance '70. The opposite terminal of the solenoid 8 of the controller, and the contcct-segment is connected by conductor S7 with the contact-segment 74 of the cont roller.

After the motor has been sturled the op- `ration oi the elevator mechanism muy be controlled through the controller While tht` l motor is running, the direction of operation \oi" said mechanism depending upon thc direction in which the controller-arm is moved from its initial position. Suppose that the l controller-erin be moved to the left, the then circuit will be closed from the direct-current tupply-wire 64 through winding 19 of the y clutchv 10, conductor SS, resistance 63, brushes 72 and 73, contact-segment 74, conductor S7, segment X3, brushes S5 und S4, `segment 82 to the opposite direct-current `supply-wire 65. A circuit for the current imuy also be truc-ed from supply-wire 64,

moved in, the opposite direction, orto thel is connected with the contact-segments 77..

armature or secondary member willbe gradually brought to the speed of the magnet or primar)T member without disturbiiu.r the sui;- plyeireuit lor the motor or too suddenly subjeetil'lg the motor to the load. 'Vhen the eentrollerearm reaches its :final position, the armature or secondari)r member will rotate in unison-With the magnet or primary member. If it be desired to operate the elevator' mechanism at` less than normal speed, theroni troller-arni may be placed at an mtermcdiate position, so as to insert `sullieient resistance in series With the cluteh-winding to produce the desired speed of the secondary member relative to the primary member, while the motor continues to operate at its most eil'ective speed. The movement er" the controllerarm to the right will close the circuit from the supply-wire 64 through the winding' ot .clutch 11, conductor 90, resistance 7U, brushes 72 and 73. contact-segment 75, conductor Sti, segment 78, brushes S() and 81, and segment 7S) to the opposite supply-Wire 65. The eireuit for the solenoid S may be followed in substantially the same manner as heretofore described. With the mechanism driven through. the clutch l1 it will operate in the opposite' direction l'rom what 1t did when driven through the clutch lt). The clutch llmay be. controlled by the controller inthe same way as the clutch lt). It the elevator mechanism is permitted to operate in the direction which it is being driven by either et the clutches to a point where the car or other device comrolled thereby would pass beyond la certain limit, the limit-switch will be operated in the manner prcviouslY set lorth and break the circuit. This will cause the secondary member ot' the clutch to cease to be driven and permit the brake to hold the elevator mechanism against operation. Alfter the limitswitch has operated the circuit can be closed through only the clutch, which will cause the elevator' mechanism to be driven in the opposite direction from that in `which it was previously operating.

In Figs. 6 and y7 I have illustrated an arrangement contem `)lated for operating' a bank orplurality ol' cle f'ators from a single motor. 'lhe several elevators each have a ear 91, which is arranged in a shalt 92 and elevat or i general construction as the one previouslyr described. 'er- 'l`he weight ot the car is pre ably eounterbalanced by a weight Q5, which is suspended by a cable tltj, passing' over pulf leys 97 and connected to the car. The weight of the average load` is preferabl)7 ciiunterbalanced by a weight 0S, which is suspended bv a cable llt), passing over pulleys ttl() and wound upon the winding-drum olE the el(` vator mechanism. From the bottom ot" the elevator-car hangs a cable lOl7 which contains the circuit-wires leadingto the controller arranged within the cars. llpon the worm-shalt' ot each elevator mechanism are mounted the members oll clutches ltl and 103, said clutches being ot the same construction as previously set liorth. 'ihe driving member of each ol2 said clutches is driven trom the driving-shalt vi04- bv a belt or in an)7 other suitable wav. All of the driving members ol' the clutches are driven trom the single driving-shalt, which is operated b v a single motor o'ln any kind or construction and employing anv sort et motive power. rl`he driving members ol lthe clutches olI cach ol: the elevator mechanisms are rotated in opposite directions, so that the elevator mechanism ma)Y be operated at will in either direction. The manner ol controlling the elutchesund bralie is the same as that hcretotorc described. The several clevator-cars ma); be arranged so that one car will be ascending while the other is descending. ln this wav a vomr small motor ma)Y be employed to operate the elevators, as thc car descending ma)Y be used to assist the car ascending.

ln carrying" out my invention in .its various phases man v dillercnt lorms et motors. clutches, and elevator mechanisms ma" be utilixed and many manges ma),A be made in thc det ails ot' construction, :n'rang'c:neni7 and .ombination ot' parts herein set l'or'h witlu out in :unI wav dcviatmg from the spirit or the scopo o1 my invention.

Having described my invention, what i claim as new, and desire yto secure buv Letters i"arcnt, is

l. The combination with an elevator mechanism, ol' a driving' element thcrcf'or capable oll running indcpcndontl \v thcreol', a magnclic clutch whose driven member is accelerated through the combined i|illiii .i1 -c ll induction and t'i-iction tor connecting' said driving clement and elevator mechanism to golherdo operato the elevator in one direction, and a second magnetic clutch whose driven member is accelerated through the combined inlluence ol" induction and friction l'or connecting said elevator mechanism and lOO .llO

the driving element thereof' tooperate the elevator mechanism in an opposite direction.

2. The combination with an elevator mechanism, of a driving element therelor-'capable ofk running'independentlythereof, af ma netic clutch Whose drivenjelment is accederated through the vcombined influence ofinduction'and friction for connecting said driven element Withsaid mechanism to operate the same in one direction, asecond magnctlc clutch whose driven member 1s acce erated through the combined iniuence of in duction and friction for connecting said driven element with said elevator mechanism to operate the same inan opposite direction, and a controller for said clutches.

3. The combination with an elevator mechanism, of a driving element therefor capable of running independently thereof, a Wheel for operating said mechanism in one direction i .same capable of running independently thereof, a magnetic clutch whose driven member is accelerated through the combined iniuence of induction and friction for connecting said motor and mechanism to opcrate the same in one direction, and a second magnetic clutch Whose driven member is accelerated through the combined influence of induction and friction for connecting said motor and mechanism for operating the mechanism in an opposite direction.

5. The combination with an elevator mechanism, of an electric motor for operating the same capable of running independently thereof, a magnetic clutch whose driven member is accelerated through the combined iniiu ence of induction and friction for connecting said motory and mechanism to operate the mechanism in one direction, a second magnetic clutch Whose driven member is accelerated through the combined influence of in duction and friction forconnecting said motor and mechanism to operate the mechanism in an opposite direction, and a controller for said clutches.

6. The combination Vith an elevator mech anism, of an electric motor for operatii same capable of running' .independently tlof, a wheel for turning the driving-shaft of said mechanism in one direction, a .second wheel for turning said driving-shaft in an opposite direction, and magnetic clutches whose driven members are accelerated through the combined inuence oi' induction and friction for connecting said 1wheels with said motor.

7. The combination with an elevator mechanism, of an alternatingwiurent motor for operating lthe same capable of running independently thereof, a magnetic clutch for connecting said motor and said mechanism, a brake for said mechanism, a solenoid foroperating the same, and means for supplying a direct current to said solenoid and said clutch.

8. The combination with an elevator mechanism, of an electric motor for operatino' the same capable of running independently t 1creof, a magnetic clutch or accelerator lor connecting said motor with said mechanism, and a limit-switch' for controlling the circuit throiwh said clutch. i

9. T e combination vith a plurality of clevator mechanisms, of a single driving elcmenl. therefor, capable of ruimingI independenil thereof, anda plurality ol' magnetic chil. Etos whose driven members are accelerated `through thc combined iniluencc of induction and friction for connecting said mechanisms with said driving element.

l0. The combination with a plurality of elevator mechanisms, of a single electric motor for operating the same capable of runnin' independently thereof, and a plurality oil magnetic clutches Whose driven members are accelerated tlnon'gh the combined influence of induction and friction for connecting said mechanisms with said motor.

l1. The combination with an elevator mechanism, of a driving element therefor, a magnetic clutch forconnccting said driv ing` element and said mechanism, a brake for said elevator mechanism, a solenoid for operating said brake, a controller for said solenoid and clutch, and a limit-switch for controlling the circuit through said solenoid and clutch.'

l2. The combination with an elevator mechanism, of a driving element therefor, a magnetic clutch for connecting said driving element and elevator-mechanisms to operate the same inone direction, a second magnetic clutch for connecting said driving clement and mechanism for operating the same in an opposite direction, a brakel'or said elevator mechanism, a solenoid for operating said brake, and a controller for said clutches and solenoid.

i3. The combination with an elevator mechanism, ol a driving element therefor, a magnetic clutch for connecting said driving element with said mechanism to operaie the same in one direction, a second magnetic clutch tor connecting said driving element with said mechanism to operate the same in anopposite direction, a brake for said elevator mechanism, a solenoid for operating the same, a controller for said clutches and solenoid, and a limit-switch for controlling the circuit through said clutches and solenoid.

i4. The combination with an elevator mechanism, of a driving element therefor, a magnetic clutch for connectingsaid driving IOS iis

element and mechanism, a brake for said ele f vater mechanism7 :i solenoid l'o operziing said brake, and :L limit-switch Comprising a movable element adapted to move over contacts and open the circuit` ol .sind solenoid and clutch ivhen the elevator-ein* has reached :i predetermined position.

l5. The combination with an elevator mechanism, ol :i driving element therefor, u nmgnetie clutch 'lor connecting said drivihiI element with sind mechanism, n broke for the elevator mechanism7 :i solenoid for ope l ating thesanne, :i limit-switch eomprisinfv :i l

mcwahle element adapted tifo sweep over contacts Lo open the eireuit to saideluteh und solenoid when the elevator-ein' has reached :L pre leiermineil position, and means operated hy sziiii driving element lor controllingthe movement oi'sziid movable element.

ln witness whereof I hm'c hereuno sub-- seriherl my mime in the presence el' two wit-- nesses.

.HENRY Il. CUTLER. Wi t messes:

i". S. \\"i;,iio1'i, T. if). B i'iixin. 

